Power delivery and data communication over a single pair of cables

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed for an integrated circuit (IC) comprising an oscillator, an on-off-keying modulator configured to modulate input data coupled to the oscillator, a serial communications transmitter coupled to the on-off-keying modulator, a serial communications receiver coupled to the serial communications transmitter by a set of cables, and an envelope detector coupled to the serial communications receiver. In the IC, power and data are simultaneously delivered across the same set of cables from the serial communications transmitter to the serial communications receiver.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/684,243, filed Jun. 13, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

A typical system for RS485/RS422 data communication needs two pairs of cables whenever power delivery is also required. This additional cabling results in higher costs and may be disadvantageous from a cost standpoint.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods are disclosed for an integrated circuit (IC) comprising an oscillator, an on-off-keying modulator configured to modulate input data coupled to the oscillator, a serial communications transmitter coupled to the on-off-keying modulator, a serial communications receiver coupled to the serial communications transmitter by a set of cables, and an envelope detector coupled to the serial communications receiver. In the IC, power and data are simultaneously delivered across the same set of cables from the serial communications transmitter to the serial communications receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of various examples, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates system in which power is transmitted through separate cables from RS485/RS422 data.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which power and data signals are transmitted through the same pair of cables.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the system architecture of the system.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a block diagram of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system in which power is transmitted through separate cables from RS485/RS422 data. RS-485 applications benefit from differential signaling over twisted-pair cables. As discussed herein, RS485 and RS422 are industry standards defining the electrical characteristics of drivers and receivers for use in serial communications. RS485 defines the electrical characteristics of drivers and receivers that could be used to implement a balanced multipoint transmission line. See “The RS-485 Design Guide,” available at https://www.ti.com/lit/an/slla272c/slla272c.pdf. Typically, RS485 and RS422 standards involve data transmission only and do not contemplate power delivery through the same physical medium. This type of cabling is generally at a system level and does not incorporate any kind of signal modulation. In the system shown, sub-system A 110 is coupled to sub-system B 140 using two pairs of cables. The first set of cables 120, 120′ couple the Power IN 112 of Sub-system A 110 to the Power OUT 142 of Sub-system B 140. In this manner, power is delivered from Sub-system B 140 to Sub-system A 110. Separately, data is transmitted from Sub-system A 110 to Sub-system B 140 using a second pair of cables 130, 130′ that couple the RS485/RS422 data transmitter 114 to the RS485/RS422 data receiver 144. The system of FIG. 1 thus requires two sets of cables for operation, thereby resulting in significant cabling costs and unfavorable weight increases in implementation.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which power and data signals are transmitted through the same pair of cables. Compared to the example of FIG. 1, the example of FIG. 2 discloses superior techniques for data transmission, preferably using the RS485 and/or RS422 protocols. The illustrative system shown in FIG. 2 comprises Sub-system A 210 and Sub-system B 230. Analogously to FIG. 1, power is delivered and data is transmitted between Sub-system A 210 to Sub-system B 230. Sub-system A comprises a power input, Power IN 211, and a RS485/RS422 data transmitter 212. Sub-system B comprises a power output, Power OUT 231, and a RS485/RS422 data receiver 232. Sub-system A 210 and Sub-system B 230 are coupled together via a single pair of cables 220, 220′.

In FIG. 2, the single pair of cables 220, 220′ is configured to carry both power and data. Power delivery may include an alternating current (AC) voltage or direct current (DC) voltage. In this example, data transmission utilizes any suitable protocol such as the RS485 or RS422 protocols. Power is delivered from Sub-system B 230 to Sub-system A 210 from the power output 231 to the power input 211 via the single pair of cables 220, 220′. The power input 211 is coupled to the single pair of cables 220, 220 through a first pair of coupling inductors 213 and 213′, respectively. Analogously, the power output is coupled to the single pair of cables through a second pair of coupling inductors 233 and 233′, respectively.

The single pair of cables 220, 220′ also carry data transmission between the RS485/RS422 data transmitter 212 and the RS485/RS422 data receiver 242. As data is transmitted, it passes through the AC coupling capacitors 214 and 234 in the first cable 220, and through the AC coupling capacitors 214′ and 234′ through the second cable 220′. The first cable 220 and the second cable 220′ are connected by a first resistor 216 on the RS485/RS422 data transmitter 212 side and a second resistor 236 on the RS485/RS422 data receiver 232 side.

As shown in FIG. 2, data is transmitted between the RS485/RS422 data transmitter 212 and the RS485/RS422 data receiver 242 over the single pair of cables 220, 220′. In this illustrative implementation, data is modulated over the existing power cabling. As will be explained further herein, the modulation may take the form of OOK modulation. In certain implementations, that OOK modulation may be handled inside of an RS485 transceiver. In practice, because the OOK modulation occurs inside the transceiver, there is a broad market for the technology. That is because the system offers a wide data range in operation, there is no data DC balancing required, and the electrical signaling parameters conform to the TIA/EIA-485A standard. Furthermore, because OOK modulation occurs in the transceiver, there are no controller or software updates required. Thus, the hardware of the described examples may be included as part of a larger system without costly and time-consuming modifications.

The implementation of FIG. 2 also offers all of the attendant benefits of the RS485 standard because it uses the RS485 physical layer, so that there is flexibility in its implementation. Furthermore, in certain implementations, the system incorporates SSC operations to reduce EMI, thereby improving system performance. In certain other implementations, the system is implemented in a master-slave architecture, allowing for real-time/deterministic operation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the system architecture. In FIG. 3, data is input at Data IN 302. A representation of the data is shown as the waveform 303 below the diagram. The data modulated by an oscillator 304 and the OOK modulator 306 prior to being transmitted to the RS485 driver (also referred to as the transmitter) 308, which is connected to the RS485 receiver. The data transmitted to the RS485 driver 308 has a modulated waveform 305. The data that is input into the RS485 driver 308 is then further modified in accordance with the RS485 standard, such that the data waveform 307 (top waveform) that travels through the pair of cables 310, 310′. On each cable 310, 310′, the data passes through a first set of AC coupling capacitors 312, 313 on the first cable 310 and a second set of AC coupling capacitors 312′, 313′ on the second cable 310′.

Data transmission preferable utilizes the RS485 or RS422 protocols. Power is delivered from the power output, Power OUT 316, to the power input, Power IN 314, via the single pair of cables 310, 310′. The power input 314 is coupled to the single pair of cables 310, 310′ through a first pair of coupling inductors 315, 315′, respectively. Analogously, the power output, Power OUT, 316 is coupled to the single pair of cables through a second pair of coupling inductors 317 and 317′, respectively. Further, as in FIG. 2 above, the pair of cables 310, 310′ are connected by a first resistor 318 on the RS485 driver 308 side and a second resistor 318′ on the RS485 receiver 320 side. A graphical representation of the power delivery through the pair of cables 310, 310′ is shown in the waveform 307 (bottom waveform) below the cables 310, 310′.

At the RS485 receiver 320, the data signal is isolated once more from the power delivery and transmitted to the envelope detector 322 as a waveform 321. That waveform is further modulated at the envelope detector 322, such that the data output, Data OUT, 324 may take the form of the data output signal 323.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example block diagram of the system. The integrated circuit (IC) 400 includes an RS485 half-duplex system with time division multiplexing. An RS422 standard may be substituted in certain implementations. The IC 400 provides for on-off-keying modulation of the data input within the RS485/RS422 transceiver. The shaded components of the chip 400, OSC 404, Mod. 406, and Env. Det. 422, correspond to the oscillator 304, the OOK modulator 306, and the envelope detector 322, described in FIG. 3. The unshaded components of the chip 400 are found in implementations of the RS485 standard. Those components, which correspond to those described in FIG. 3, are the data input, D 402, the RS485 transmitter/driver, TX 408, the first and second resistors 418, 418′, the RS485 receiver, RX 420, and the data output, R 424. Additionally, the chip diagram of FIG. 4 shows the input buffer 403 and the output buffer 422, which are also found inside the RS485 transceiver. The chip 400 components operate consistently with how they are described in FIG. 3.

In a use of the chip 400, the data input 402 flows into the input buffer 403, which then transmits the data to the modulator 406. The data modulated by an oscillator 404 and the OOK modulator 406 prior to being transmitted to the RS485 driver 408, which is connected to the RS485 receiver 420. In this example, the RS485 driver 408 is coupled to a fast discharge circuit (FDC) 410. The FDC 410 actively drives the RS-485 bus to the output common mode voltage with zero swing. This circuit 410 guarantees deterministic discharging of the external series capacitors and extends the cable reach of the system. The RS485 driver 408 and the RS485 receiver 420 are coupled together with a pair of cables 410, 410′. As described in FIG. 3, the pair of cables 410, 410′ are connected by at least one resistor 418, 418′ on each side. The cables 410, 410′ are also coupled to a first bus pin 444 and a second bus pin 446, through which the chip 400 can deliver power, which may be inductively coupled, across the cables 410, 410′. The chip's 400 architecture also preferably includes supply voltage 442, a ground 448, a receiver enable 450, and a driver enable 452.

Modifications are possible in the described systems and methods, and other implementations are possible, within the scope of the claims. All references cited herein are expressly incorporated in their entireties.

In describing the examples in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the examples are not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Several examples are described for illustrative purposes, but the principles described herein may be embodied in other forms not specifically shown in the drawings. In this description, the term “couple” or “couples” means either an indirect or direct wired or wireless connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated circuit (IC) comprising: an oscillator; an on-off-keying modulator configured to modulate input data coupled to the oscillator; a serial communications transmitter coupled to the on-off-keying modulator; a serial communications receiver coupled to the serial communications transmitter by a set of cables; and an envelope detector coupled to the serial communications receiver; wherein power and the modulated data are simultaneously delivered across the set of cables from the serial communications transmitter to the serial communications receiver.
 2. The IC of claim 1, wherein the serial communications transmitter and the serial communications receiver implement the RS485 standard.
 3. The IC of claim 1, wherein the set of cables are connected by a set of resistors.
 4. The electronic chip of claim 1, further comprising an input buffer, configured to pass the input data prior to the input data being provided to the on-off-keying modulator.
 5. The IC of claim 1, wherein the serial communications transmitter is coupled to a fast discharge circuit.
 6. The IC of claim 1, wherein the on-off-keying modulator is located inside an RS485 transceiver that is configured to perform on-off-keying modulation of the input data
 7. The IC of claim 1, wherein the IC performs spread-spectrum clocking.
 8. The IC of claim 1, wherein the IC is a half-duplex system.
 9. The IC of claim 1, wherein the power is inductively coupled to the cables.
 10. A data communications system comprising: a transceiver comprising an off-keying modulator configured to modulate input data; a serial communications transmitter coupled to the transceiver; and a serial communications receiver coupled to the serial communication transmitter by a set of cables; and wherein the serial communications transmitter is configured to simultaneously deliver power and the modulated data over the set of cables.
 11. The data communications system of claim 10, wherein the power input and the power output are configured to be inductively coupled to the set of cables.
 12. The data communications system of claim 10, wherein the set of cables is connected by a set of resistors.
 13. The data communications system of claim 10, wherein the set of cables is configured to use capacitive coupling to deliver the modulated data.
 14. The data communication system of claim 10, wherein the serial communications transmitter complies with the RS485 standard.
 15. The data communications system of claim 11, wherein the serial communications transmitter is configured to perform spread-spectrum clocking.
 16. The data communications system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to use electrical signaling parameters that conform to the TIA/EIA-485A standard.
 17. A method for data transmission comprising: receiving input data at an on-off-keying modulator configured to modulate the input data; transmitting the modulated data from the on-off-keying modulator to a serial communications transmitter, wherein the serial communications transmitter is coupled to a serial communications receiver by a set of cables; transmitting the modulated data from the serial communications transmitter to the serial communications receiver, wherein the modulated data is transmitted simultaneously with power across the set of cables with power.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising modulating the input data prior to its transmission to the serial communications transmitter.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising performing spread-spectrum clocking.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting the modulated data from the serial communications receiver to an envelope detector coupled to said serial communications receiver.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising further modulating the data at the envelope detector prior to data output. 